Ooh la la – The 2017 Alliance Francaise French Film Festival

Australia’s largest film festival and celebration of all things Gallic – the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival returns for a bumper 28th season.

From March 16 to April 9, 250 of French cinema’s finest movies will be screened at Palace Centro and Palace Barracks. Some outstanding newcomers join Francophile film lover’s favourite movie stars in a season of romantic comedies, period and contemporary dramas as well as documentaries.

With 45 films (250 screenings in total) over 3 weeks the event promises to be another blockbuster here and as it tours across Australia.

Performances by the ‘stars’ of French cinema include Audrey Tautou in Jérôme Salle’s ‘The Odyssey’ – a sweeping biopic of Jacques Cousteau. Isabelle Huppert stars in the romantic comedy Souvenir and Omar Sy (The Intouchables, 2011) in the title role of Monsieur Chocolat set in Belle Époque Paris are not to be missed.

French comedy superstar Dany Boon, best known for the hilarious ‘Welcome to the Sticks’ headlines a new comedy, ‘Penny Pincher’. Léa Seydoux, Vincent Cassel and Marion Cotillard star in the edgy 2016 Cannes Grand Jury Prize winner ‘It’s Only the End of the World’.

The most talked about Gallic ingénue since Audrey Tautou, Lily-Rose Depp also stars in Rebecca Zlotowski’s ‘Planetarium’.

Alliance Francaise Brisbane Director, Jacques Bounin said this year’s line-up of contemporary French cinema as sure to draw record crowds. “Demonstrating the diversity and brilliance of French cinema and culture, the festival will feature movies for every taste.”

Lily-Rose Depp also features in ‘The Dancer’ as the famed Isadora Duncan in the intriguing biography, ‘The Dancer’. French singer-actress Soko shines as the American-born Loie Fuller who became the toast of Belle Époque cabaret and Paris Opera for her arduous and groundbreaking ‘Serpentine’ dance. It is an engrossing story told beautifully by first time feature director Stéphanie Di Giusto.

The Brisbane Alliance Francaise French Film Festival’s much anticipated special events are once more part of the program. ‘The Odyssey’ on has been chosen as the opening night gala film event on March 16 with ‘The Dancer’ the feature for the very popular ‘Ladies Night’ on March 24. ‘One Man and his Cow’ is screening for the ‘A Taste of France’ – with a French countryside party to be held before the film on March 31. The Closing Night Gala’ party precedes ‘a Bun in the Oven’ by celebrated director Nadége Loiseau.

For the full line-up for the 2017 Alliance Francaise Brisbane French Film Festival, including the premiere screenings and French-themed special events: http://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/

Liz Bond comes from a PR background and loves fine wine, great food and rewarding travel - all the magnificent things in life. She prides herself in an innate ability to meet famous celebrities at baggage carousels.